I put 10 pounds of tall fescue grass seed down on my 1,500 square foot lawn on Thursday. A few hours later, a massive storm comprised of strong winds and torrential downpour annihilated my work. As a result, I used another 5 pounds of seed to lightly overseed all areas, and moderately seed the bare areas. So 15 pounds of seed in total, which seems like a lot, but my lawn was in bad shape, I vigorously dethatched it manually, and it was very thin in most parts. I also had several large bare areas, so it wasn't strictly overseeding.
Should I be worried? I've read over and over about the dangers of applying too much seed. Some of the seed is likely buried too deep and much of it was washed away.
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FAQs
You'll know if you seeded too heavy when the grass grows in very thick patches. These patches look great initially but are eventually thinned out by turf disease.
What happens if you lay too much grass seed? ›
Quality grass seed labels include guidance on optimal seeding rates to maximize your results. Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.
How much grass seed is enough? ›
Always follow the guidelines recommended on the seed bag. Some grass seeds can cover 1000 square feet with just 1 pound, while other types need a pound for every 200 square feet. If your question is, “does a 50-pound bag of grass seed cover the area I want” then read the bag. Don't just buy a bag and hope it's enough.
What does grass look like when it is seeding? ›
Cool season turf grass goes through a process in mid-spring where it flowers and begins the process of setting seed. These immature seed heads make the turf look “feathery” and can detract from the overall dark green color of your turf.
What if grass seed is too deep? ›
Grass seed needs to be planted only ¼ inch deep and pressed into the loosened soil. If planted much deeper or covered with an inch or two of fresh soil, you have planted too deep and the seed will not germinate.
Why is my grass dying after seeding? ›
Drought stress is the most common reason grass turns brown. Just like any plant, grass will have a negative reaction when there is less moisture in the soil and air paired with higher temperatures.
Can I just throw grass seed on bare spots? ›
Can I Just Throw Grass Seed on Bare Spots? Throwing grass seed onto bare spots will result in little-to-no germination and will not help to repair lawn spots. If you want to fix patches on grass, you need to properly prepare the bare spots before laying down the seed.
Can I just throw grass seed down on an existing lawn? ›
When you just sprinkle grass seed on an existing lawn, it ends up just sitting atop of the soil and a lot of it may never germinate. Then homeowners end up asking the question, why can't I get my grass to grow? In reality, the best practice is to have lawn aeration performed followed by overseeding the lawn.
How do I know if my grass seed is working? ›
The most straightforward way to know if your grass seed is germinating is to look at it. If the seed's sprout is pushing up through the soil, it has successfully germinated. If there are no sprouts after two weeks, check the seeds.
Should you water after putting down grass seed? ›
Try not to let the soil completely dry out. If your seed is planted in bare soil, do not soak or flood your lawn. When watering a new lawn, use just enough water to keep the soil moist at seed depth. Standing water or prolonged heavy rain could ruin some of the seed or possibly wash the seed away.
If you simply toss the grass seed onto the soil, you will end up with poor germination. Thoroughly rake the area to remove any loose debris and to create grooves in the soil. These grooves will help increase the seed-to-soil contact that is imperative for germination.
Is it possible to put down too much grass seed? ›
When you apply too much grass seed, each individual seed does not have the same access to the soil; some piled on top of other seeds may not touch the soil at all. Germination cannot successfully occur if the seed does not have soil contact.
Should grass seed be raked in? ›
In most cases, if you are simply adding seed to a thinning lawn it is not necessary to rake in the grass seed. If you are seeding a new lawn or there are bare spots, then you will need to rake in the seeds.
Can I put down grass seed every two weeks? ›
Make at least 3 applications of seed, each a week or so apart. More applications are fine, too. Applying a large amount of seed to the lawn gives the competitive advantage to the perennial ryegrass over the weed seeds which are already lurking in the soil.
Will grass seed grow if I just throw it down? ›
Basically the grass will not grow if no grass maintenance has been completing prior to planting and it is just thrown on the ground. It will be a waste of time and investment over time. We have all the tips and experience that you need to know to get the grass to grow in your lawn.
What happens if you don't rake in grass seed? ›
If you simply toss the grass seed onto the soil, you will end up with poor germination. Thoroughly rake the area to remove any loose debris and to create grooves in the soil. These grooves will help increase the seed-to-soil contact that is imperative for germination.
Can you over grass seed a lawn? ›
Overseeding can help you get back to the thick, lush, green lawn you've always wanted. By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again. (This is different from reseeding, which is when you start over and plant a completely new lawn.)
